Log incising device



y 21, 1963 v. WQCONRAD 3,090,120

LOG INCISING DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1961 INVENTOR. VER/YOI/ M (o/v0.40

United States Patent Gee 3,090,120 LOG INCISING DEVICE Vernon W. Conrad, 14512 Edgewater Lane, Seattle, Wash. Filed Aug. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 134,277 3 Claims. (Cl. 30-465) The present invention relates to a device for making incisions in and to provide for the separation of round logs into disc-like pieces or wafers.

Artificially formed logs having a diameter of about 4%" and a length of about 15" are sold on the market under such trade names as Presto Logs, and Burn-Rite Logs. They are formed from scrap shavings from a lumber mill and bound together by heat and pressure and extruded from the machines which form them and then cut them substantially to the length mentioned.

It is diflicult to start a fire with such logs, if they remain in the size in which they were purchased. If the logs are made to specifications so that they will be long burning, full sized such logs are difficult to start to burn. However, if the logs are cut into relatively thin wafers, such wafers permit the ready start of a fire.

It is an object of my invention to provide a log incising device which will provide for incisions in logs so that the logs may be readily separated into disc-like pieces or wafers.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a device which is sturdy and rugged but at the same time is inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from the consideration of the accompanying detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described since obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the device when in use illustrating the device in connection with a round log of the manufactured type;

FIG. 2 is a view in end elevation, with parts broken away, and on an enlarged scale over FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an elevation view, taken substantially on broken line 3-3 of FIG. 2, and with the log shown by dot and dash lines.

New referring to the drawings, the log 5 is to be incised by my device to provide wafer-like portions 6.

An arcuate central means is preferably provided from spaced arcuate link means 7 and 8 connected together by rivets 9. The rivets 9 have a central portion which is greater diameter than that at the ends, so that said rivets 9 function as spacer members to space the link means 7 and 8 apart and at the same time, after their end portions are flattened, they function in the usual manner of rivets. Such types of rivets are standard on the market and readily obtained. The rivets 9 function as bearings to pivotally mount handles 10. The handles 10 each carry an incising or blade portion 11 and with the rivets functioning between the blade portion 11 and the handle portion 10. Also the spacing provided by the said rivets 9, between the link means 7 and 8, is such to 3,090,120 Patented May 21, 1963 have operating clearance of the handles 10 when operating betwen link means 7 and 8.

The blade portions 11 each operates in an arc. The distance between the two arcs from the two blade portions 11 is more than half way around the log 5 so that as the blade port-ions i=1 engage with the log 5 there is a tendency to pull the central portions of the links 7 and 8 toward the log 5.

From the foregoing it should now be obvious that I have provided a device for incising round logs and that I provide an arcuate central link means which preferably is formed of two link means 7 and 8. In view of the fact that we are cutting manufactured logs, their diameters are rather uniform and We can thus have a snug fit between the inner surface of the arcuate link means and the surface of a log 5. Also the character of the logs desired to be incised is such that with two cuts or incisions made in the log, a wafer-like portion such as 6 can be easily removed after the incisions have been made. Generally the wafers fall away from the balance of the log after the incisions have been made, however, it is entirely practical to use the blade portions 1.1 as wedges or levers moved by pressure on handles 10.

Each of the lever means comprises a relatively long handle means 10 on one side of the pivot means and a relatively short blade means 11 on the other side of the pivot means. The blade means are relatively short to provide relatively shallow incisions in the log.

Preferably the arcuate link means is formed of two arcuate link means 7 and 8, spaced apart and secured together by rivets 9 at the end portions of the links. Also the rivets have the further function of pivots for the levers 10. The blade means 11 contact the log in sufficient spaced distances around the log so as to urge the log again-st links 7 and 8 while incisions are being made.

Obviously changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, the foregoing setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for incising round logs comprising an arcuate central link means having an inner surface for fitting crosswise on a surface portion of a log; two pivot means, each disposed on an end portion of said central link means; two lever means each carried by one of said pivot means to move in a direction crosswise of the log, each of said levers being an integral unit of a relatively long handle means on one side of said pivot means and a relatively short blade means on the other side of said pivot means, said blade means being of a length to make relatively shallow incisions into a log.

2. A device for incising round logs comprising an arcuate central link means having an inner surface for fitting crosswise on a surface portion of a log; said central link means comprising two spaced apart links; two pivot means interconnecting the spaced apart links and each disposed on an end portion of said central link means; and two lever means each disposed between spaced apart links and carried by one of said pivot means to move in a direction crosswise of the log, each of said levers being an integral unit of a relatively long handle means on one side of said pivot means and a relatively short blade means on the other side of said pivot means, said blade being of a length to make relatively shallow incisions into a log.

3. A device for incising round logs comprising an arcuate central link means having an inner surface for fitting crosswise on a surface portion of a log and for more than one half way around; two pivot means, each disposed on an end portion of said central link means; two lever means each carried by one of said pivot means to move in a direction crosswise of the log, each of said levers being an integral unit of a relatively long handle means on one side of said pivot means and a relatively short blade means on theother side of said pivot means, the blade portions initially contacting the log at locations separated by-more than half way around the log, said blade means being of a length to make relatively shallow incisions into a log.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,787 Harlow Dec. 8, 1885 338,716 Conner Mar. 30, 1886 1,519,407 Kingham et a1 Dec. 16, 1924 2,5 15,627 Capewell July 18, 1950 2,655,763 Grissett Oct. 20, 1953 2,760,307 Tiblom Aug. 28, 1956 

1. A DEVICE FOR INCISING ROUND LOGS COMPRISING AN ARCUATE CENTRAL LINK MEANS HAVING AN INNER SURFACE FOR FITTING CROSSWISE ON A SURFACE PORTION OF A LOG; TWO PIVOT MEANS, EACH DISPOSED ON AN END PORTION OF SAID CENTRAL LINK MEANS; TWO LEVER MEANS EACH CARRIED BY ONE OF SAID PIVOT MEANS TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION CROSSWISE OF THE LOG, EACH OF SAID LEVERS BEING AN INTEGRAL UNIT OF A RELATIVELY LONG HANDLE MEANS ON ONE SIDE ON SAID PIVOT MEANS AND A RELATIVELY SHORT BLADE MEANS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PIVOT MEANS, SAID BLADE MEANS BEING OF A LENGTH TO MAKE RELATIVLEY SHALLOW INCISIONS INTO A LOG. 